New Diabetes UK Professional Interest Network to advance physical activity in type 2 diabetes management
Physical activity professionals and diabetes specialists from the Leicester Diabetes Centre (LDC) and the University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust have established a new Diabetes UK (DUK) Professional Interest Network (PIN) group. The main aim of this group is to bring people together who are interested in physical activity and its impact on the self-management of type 2 diabetes (T2D).
The new PIN group will hold its inaugural meeting at the Diabetes UK conference in February 2025, taking place at the SEC in Glasgow. On Friday 28 February, from 13:10 to 14:10, participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences of how physical activity can support people in managing T2D. The session theme is "From brief advice to exercise on referral: evidence-based approaches to promoting physical activity and where to find them".
Panel members on the day include:
Professor Tom Yates, Professor of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Health, Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester
Professor Jason Gill, BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
Dr Kate Wooley, GP, NIHR In-Practise Fellow, Leicester Diabetes Centre
Dr Louisa Herring, Physical Activity, Research and Implementation Lead Research Associate, Leicester Diabetes Centre
They will share their experiences of supporting people with T2D in becoming more active, alongside the PIN Leads, Julia Burdon, and Samantha Whittle. Julia is a Physiotherapist working in diabetes research and part of the DESMOND National Team at the Leicester Diabetes Centre. Samantha is a Diabetes Specialist Nurse who leads an exercise and education programme for people diagnosed with T2D called ‘Refocusise’.
Julia explains: “We are extremely grateful to DUK for the opportunity to launch this PIN at their 2025 conference, enabling collaboration on physical activity between academics, healthcare professionals, physical activity instructors and practitioners working with people living with T2D.
“The group will continue after the DUK conference and serve as a resource to share new and existing research and evidence on physical activity. It will provide a space for sharing skills among people working in physical activity and T2D.”
Professor Yates adds: “Physical activity is an important aspect of diabetes management that is often underutilised in clinical care. It is therefore both exciting and encouraging that this PIN has received support. Peer learning and the sharing of best practice are vital for the progress of this field.”
Founded in 2009 as a partnership between the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and the University of Leicester, LDC’s mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes and long-term conditions and their carers, through research, education, and innovation.
To find out more about this new PIN group, email: julia.burdon@uhl-tr.nhs.uk and Samantha.Whittle@uhd.nhs.uk or come along to the session at the DUK Conference 2025 at in the Alsh room.